Self Serve Duty Drawback Without a Broker

Self serve duty drawback means filing claims for import tariff refunds directly through a software platform rather than hiring a customs broker to manage the process. With Zollback, you upload your trade documents — bills of lading, commercial invoices, customs declarations — and the platform handles everything: AI parsing, eligibility assessment, refund optimization, compliance review by in-house licensed brokers, and electronic CBP filing via certified ABI software. You track progress in real time without any manual involvement on your end.

You do not need to hire an outside broker when using Zollback's self-serve mode. The platform is built to handle the entire process end-to-end. However, every claim Zollback files still receives a compliance review from its in-house licensed customs brokers before submission. This means you get the independence of a self-serve workflow with the regulatory oversight of licensed expertise — without paying a third-party broker's fees or waiting on their timeline.

Zollback's self-serve mode is designed for companies with straightforward drawback cases — typically SMBs in the $5M to $50M revenue range, e-commerce companies with returns or destroyed goods, and businesses filing drawback claims for the first time. If your case is more complex, Zollback's automated complexity assessment will route it to licensed brokers for additional review. There is no minimum claim size, so companies with smaller refund potential that traditional providers would decline can still be served.

Filing directly through CBP's ABI system requires your own certified ABI communications link, deep familiarity with drawback regulations, and manual data preparation — a significant technical and compliance barrier. Zollback's self-serve mode provides access to certified ABI filing as part of the platform, with AI-powered document parsing, automated refund optimization, and licensed broker compliance review built in. You get direct CBP filing authority without needing to establish or maintain your own ABI infrastructure.

Zollback's guided document upload wizard tells you exactly what files to provide for your specific drawback type — typically bills of lading, commercial invoices, and customs entry documents. The platform accepts PDFs, CSVs, and ERP exports. Before processing begins, AI-powered completeness checking reviews your submission and alerts you if any critical information is missing, so claims are not delayed by incomplete documentation. You can also use the estimated refund calculator upfront to understand your potential recovery before committing.